We found a piece of paradise off the beaten path in Nicaragua. After a stressful border crossing, a 2 hr commute to a ferry crossing, gratitude that we were informed not to take the 1st wooden boat across the lake, a peaceful water crossing and an eventful ride across the island.
chicken bus –inexpensive transportation in Nicaragua
I planned our crossing from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. I read various blogs and even watched a video that was filmed very discretely. Crossing here can take typically take anywhere between 1 and 4 hours. It is busier during holiday times. There are a few transportation options: a local bus comfort bus, (a Tica or a Nica bus) a chicken bus (very cheap, bumpy and colourful) or a private shuttle. With the girls and 6 suitcases, we choose to take a shuttle. There are many restrictions, steps and fees crossing the border. You have to obtain a special permit to take a vehicle across the border. You also have to pay extra at the border and be willing to undergo a mysterious $5 fumigation of the vehicles exterior. Therefore, people leave their vehicles at the border if they are visiting and our shuttle driver would only take us to the border and once we crossed into Nicaragua we met a new shuttle driver.
customs leaving Costa Rica: covered, air conditioning inside and easy to obtain forms
There is a lot of countryside to view as we neared the border, much agriculture and few residences. We knew we were close once we came upon rows and rows of semis on both sides of the two lane highway. These big trucks transporting goods north can wait DAYS to be examined. We drove past these trucks. Our first stop amid seemingly random buildings was a small building, not clearly marked. Rhoneil exited the van and went to pay our $7/person Costa Rican exit tax, complete with a computer generated receipt. We kept our fingers crossed, hoping the machine was working as we did not pay in advance in the larger city of Liberia during banking hours. Meanwhile our shuttle driving took me and the girls to the close by next stop. I hoped Rhoneil would be able to find us. The next stop was full of more action. There money changers and assistants who yell at travelers and between themselves on the Nicaraguan side of the fence. At this stop all of us lined up outdoors to enter a air conditioned building in measured groups to have our passports stamped, and fill out the exit forms our driven obtained on our behalf. Then there is a more than 1km walk to the Nicaraguan side along a dusty and sunny road. Our driver convinced officials that we should be driven to the border as we had “small” children. The official may have been bribed by our driver. There we unloaded, said goodbye to our paternal Nicaraguan shuttle driver, Cesar who made sure we could see and greet our next shuttle driver.
Our 1st stop was to have a health check in a building with two walls and a roof. A woman took our temperatures with a device aimed but not touching our foreheads. We passed and claimed our “stamps”. Off to the next building, which was a covered patio. First you pay a foreigner municipality tax of $1 USA/ person or its equivalent in cordobas. At this time the exchange is 25 cordobas to $1 . There I looked for the entry forms, there were none in sight. Not to worry though a young man appeared at my side will to give me 6 forms for a tip. We filled out the forms….the girls filling out their own 🙂 . We were then next in line at then entry window 5 feet away. I could still not see any of the these free forms available. The entry into Nicaragua is $12 USA. There was a bit of stress as they want only smaller bills, we all had to pool any American money we had in our bags, so we could pass. (We could have used the services of a handy money changer, but we would loss approx 20%. Then we waited as the official wrote out, by HAND a DETAILED receipt. Meanwhile, the elderly lady behind us was quite annoyed. She clearly picked the wrong line, waiting for these group of visitors and did not benefit from heading to the top of any line, a perk bestowed upon anyone over 60 years old.
similar to our cushy ride….there is no green grass currently in the areas we traveled as it is dry season
Then there was a sighs of relief. With much assistance, planning and perhaps exchange of money we made it into Nicaragua. A new adventure awaited.